Booking window opens Tuesday...advice needed.

[BuckeyeFortFan]

This is our family's 2nd cruise, our first being a 4 day Double-Dip in 2014. This cruise is a 4 day/3 day B2B and the booking window for our first leg is opening September 3rd. I do not remember doing any on-line check in 5 years ago and am looking for some advice.
We would like to try to book a family beach cabana for one of the days on CC...preferably the 2nd, as friends will be boarding for the 2nd leg. Otherwise we are not really interested in any excursions, tastings, characters or specialty restaurants.
We are obviously Silver. We booked through a TA and have paid, through them, in full.
It is my understanding that we can start booking at midnight, yes?
What do I need to do before that? Do I need to complete online check in before I can see availabilities for cabanas and the like?
What documents do I need for online check in? My wife and I have our passports but the kids were sent off with their new passport applications.
What else do I need to know that I don't even know that I don't know?

 

[Rob1872]

You can check in around 7-8 pm East Coast time; you can start booking at midnight East Coast time.
For a closed loop Bahamas cruise your kids are not required to have their passports (even though many people including myself think it is still a good idea). You will not need to enter their passport info for online check-in and can add it later.
If you aren't interested in excursions, Palo/Remy, characters, etc. and only want a cabana, then I'll wish you luck. On most cruises, the cabanas are all gone by the time the concierge and platinum check-in is complete. Having said that, it never hurts to check. Silver and 1st timers have reported getting a cabana either at initial check-in or when occassionally going in to look if something became available.

 

[MomOTwins]

We are cruising this November as well and the cabanas on our cruise were booked up entirely by concierge: none were available even at platinum check in. You can always add your name to the waitlist when you get on the ship (you would probably be pretty high up on the waitlist, since you are B2B so will be one of the first onboard your second cruise and can get on the waitlist as soon as you board).

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

We are cruising this November as well and the cabanas on our cruise were booked up entirely by concierge: none were available even at platinum check in. You can always add your name to the waitlist when you get on the ship (you would probably be pretty high up on the waitlist, since you are B2B so will be one of the first onboard your second cruise and can get on the waitlist as soon as you board).

Where do you go to get waitlisted for a cabana? The Port Adventures desk?

 

[MomOTwins]

Where do you go to get waitlisted for a cabana? The Port Adventures desk?

That's a good question: I think probably I would probably try guest services, since I don't know if the port adventure desk can only help you book stuff that's open, or if guest services controls it like the do activity sign ups.

 

[squirk]

Where do you go to get waitlisted for a cabana? The Port Adventures desk?

We have been directed to the PA desk in the past in order to be added to the cabana waitlist.

 

[BCV23]

To answer one of your questions, you do not need to complete online checkin to view availability nor to book activities, Palo, a cabana, etc.. Once paid in full and within your booking window, everything appears. For our October cruise, I paid in full in June and booked Palo brunch and dinner, a cabana and port adventures when our window opened that month. I finally got around to completing online checkin earlier this week.

Good luck getting everything you want.